John Quigley reacts to animal activists with rural crime reforms

Camera IconThere will be no State review of drone laws, despite calls from the Nationals WA. Credit: Muresk Institute

Attorney-General John Quigley is planning a tough and nation-leading response to animal activism, with major legislative reforms to go to Cabinet within weeks.

However, the stock squad — disbanded in 2008 — will not be reinstated and there will be no State review of drone laws, despite calls from the Nationals WA, who say these measures would better protect farmers and agricultural businesses from activism and rural crime.

Instead of reinstating the stock squad, the Police Commissioner will assign rural investigators — two in the Wheatbelt and two in the South West — operating in addition to other officers.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts said drones came under Federal rather than State legislation, and a Commonwealth Government review had started.

Mr Quigley said he was working on a Cabinet submission to deal with criminal activists in the “most effective way”, but would not reveal details.

He said there was little point in increasing fines alone, given activists used crowd-funding to pay for these.

Mr Quigley recently spoke of the need for restraining orders and Mrs Roberts wants the use of real-time social media during a farm trespass to be considered an “aggravating factor” in the crime. Both measures are expected to be included in the reforms.

Nationals WA leader Mia Davies said Labor had finally revealed moves were under way to better protect WA farmers and other agricultural businesses from extreme activist behaviour.

She said that, after weeks of questions, debate and a petition with hundreds of signatures, the Nationals sought to bring the matter to a head with a call on Wednesday to form a select committee to address the activities affecting farmers and businesses.

Although the motion was defeated, Mr Quigley revealed he was planning to bring the legislative reforms to Cabinet within “two to three weeks”.

“The AG has said the Government’s response will be tough and that other States will follow, and the Nationals will be holding the Government to account on this commitment,” Ms Davies said.

National WA Agriculture spokesperson Colin de Grussa said he was disappointed the McGowan Government had walked away from its previous commitments to reform the stock squad and investigate the use of drones for illegal surveillance.

"We welcome news that four additional rural investigators have been assigned,” he said.

"The use of drones for surveillance, stalking or harassment is a new technological challenge which our Parliament needs to address, yet the McGowan Government has buried its head in the sand."

On Wednesday the Morrison Government said, if re-elected, it would will introduce a new offence designed specifically to protect farmers and primary producers from the unlawful actions of animal activists, carrying penalties of up to 12 months imprisonment.

Australia’s Attorney General Christian Porter said the penalties would apply to individuals who use a carriage service, such as the internet, to disclose personal information with the intention that another person would use that information to trespass on agricultural land. The law would also apply to other primary producers such as abattoirs.”

The new criminal offence and penalties build on other actions taken by the Morrison Government against vigilante animal activists, including prescribing Aussie Farms under the Privacy Act, meaning the organisation could face fines of up to $2.1 million for breaches of the Act and asking states and territories to consider their own trespass laws.